Floating deck



A. M. GRIFFIN FLOATING DECK Filed. Feb. 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct.

A. M. GRIFFIN 1,777,560

FLOATING DECK Filed Feb. 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [I] ll v Patented Oct. 7, 1930 UNITED. STATES P TENT 7 OFFICE ALVAH M. GRIFFIN, OF- LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB, IBY IESHE ASSIGN- L MENTS, TO'CHICAGO BRIDGE & IRON COMPANY, OF OHICAQO ILLIHOIS, A OOBPO- RATIO]; OI ILLINOIS FLOATING DECK Application filed February 23, 1927. Serial No. 170,168.

This invention relates vto floating decks, such as are employed upon large tanks gen; erally employed in the storage of oil./

The objects of the present invention are to provide a floating deck includin a plurality of individually completed air c ambers for supporting the deck and to provide sectional units which form said air chambers in a shape which will permit the sectional units to be nested in shi ment to provide a shape of sectional units which will form in the completed floatin deck a plurality of gas channels by which gas accumulating under the deck may be passed .to acentral discharge tube and to floating dec The present invention will be most readily understood from a description of the preferred 'form of example of a floating deck embodyin the-invention. For this purpose,

reference is made to the accompanying drawin s, in which:

igure 1 indicates a plan view of the floatin% deck,*

v i re 2 indicates a-bottom plan view of the oating deck with the seal attached,

Figure 3 indicates afragmental section of the floating deck indicating the seal construction, and, I r Y Figure 4 is a fragmental vertical section of the deck disclosing the gas withdrawal tube.

Referring to the drawings, the floating deck is illustrated as comprislng a plurality of pontoons 2, having open tops and flaring'sidc walls 3. The pontoons are indicated. as generally in sector shape and set together so as I 'to form a circular deck (see Figure 2). In

' with one leg of the angle irons certain cases, it may be desirable in. forming a large deck to employ a plurality of concentric series of pontoons 2. The top side edges of the pontoons 2 are fixed together by suitable means, preferably there being placed provide a novel form of slot for a legs of the angle Thetop of the pontoons 2 are covered by a plate 7 bolted as indicated at 8 to the top legs of the angle irons 5 and 6. lfhetop plate 7 may be builtin a plurality of sections sothat said plate may be readily shipped in use. At the periphery of the floating deck, the top plate 7 is turned up, as indicated at 9, to provide a water'collecting pan at the top of the.

deck.' The inner ends of the plate 7 leave an opening 10 through the deck by which the water may be discharged. If desired, a pipe ning 10 or hose may be connected to said 0 to convey the water to the exterior of the tank.

The flaring sides 3 of the pontoons formb'etween each adjacent pontoon, gas channels 11 and inorder to remove the gas from under In order provide a seal between the float-' ing deck' and the tank, there is provided referably a cylindrical skirt 15 around the cating deck, the skirt being bolted to the deck by bolts 16 passin through the flange 9 on the cover 7.- Said irt 15 supports a plurality of hinges 17 which at their outer ends are hinged to sealing shoes 18, the sealing shoes being overlapped. To the sealing shoes 18 are attached orizontal cover plates19 extending inwardly from the sealing shoes to close the space between .the skirt 15 and sealing shoes 18. Preferably the shoes 18 are yieLdingly urged to the outer position by suitable means such, fol-example, as springs 20 having one end attached-to the skirt 1'5 and their outer epds attached to the outer part of the hinges 1 While the floating deck herein described is well adapted'to carry out the objects of the present invention, it is understood that vasuch modifications and changes as come within the scope of the following appended claims.

I claim:

l. A floating deck comprising a plurality of elements of general an shape with downwardly tapering walls ormed so that the elements may be nested together when separate from the deck for shipment, said plurality of elements being arranged with their sides abutting to form a composite deckfmeans for attaching the same together, and a cover plate placed over the top of the pontoons.

2. A floating deck comprising a plurality of elements of general pan shape with downwardly tapering walls formed so that the elements may be nested together when separate from the deck for shipment, said plurality of elements being arranged with their sides abuttin to form a composite deck, means for attac ing the same together, and a cover plate placed over. the top of the pontoons, the cover plate having its peripheral edges turned up to form a water collection pan.

3. A floating deck comprising. a plurality of pontoons with flarin sides and open tops adapted to nest one within the other when said pontoons are separate from the deck, the upper edges of the pontoons being disposed adjacent one another and attached together, and a water-shed plate covering the top of "said pontoons. a

4. A floating deck comprising a plurality. I

of pontoons providing separate air chambers, said pontoons being of general pan shape with downwardly tapering side walls nels.

so that a plurality of said members may be nested together for shipment when separate from said deck, said pontoons being disposed in substantially horizontal alinement .andhaving substantially abutting sides andmeans engaging the same for attaching a plurality of said members together to form a composite deck, said pontoons forming a pluralit of gas channelsunder the deck, and-a gas ischarge tube formed in one of sa1d pontoons and communicating with said gas chan-,

5. A floating deck comprising a plurality of open to pontoons with downwardly flaring sides w ereby a plurality ofi said pontoons may be nested "together forshipment when selparate from said deck, the pontoons being ced together in. substantally horizontal alinement so that together they form a compositedeck, means engaging the sides of adjacent pontoon members for'attaching the same together, a common water-shed plate attached over the top of the pontoons, and sealing means for the deck. f

6. floating deck comprising a plurality of pontoons of sector shape with downwardly sidesv whereby the pontoons may be neste together for shipment when separate from the deck,,the pontoons being arranged to form a circular deck with the side walls of said pontoons abutting and attached together, and a common water-shed covering plate attached over the top of the pontoons.

Signed at Los Angeles, Cali ornia, this 9 day of February, 1927.

ALVAH M. GRIFFIN. 

